Copier-duplicator

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for producing multiple high quality copies of each of a series of one or two sided originals on ordinary paper while obtaining maximum net production in terms of both the number of originals copied and the number of copies produced, wherein a first right reading offset lithographic master or pair of masters are produced by known means from one or both sides of a first original, processed, pre-wet and attached to the plate holding surface or surfaces of an offset lithographic duplicator which then produces the desired number of one or two sided copies of the first original, with the image or images on the master or pair of masters being dampened (if required), inked and then offset onto a first offset blanket of first pair of offset blankets from which said image or images are in turn offset onto one or both sides of ordinary copy paper. While these copies from the first original are being run, a second master or pair of masters are being produced from the second original, processed and pre-wet. When the desired number of one or two sided copies of the first original have been produced, the first master or pair of masters are ejected. The second master or pair of masters are then immediately attached to the plate holding surface or surfaces and the process repeated.

United States Patent [191 Davidson, Jr.

[451 Jan. 15, 1974 1 COPlER-DUPLICATOR William Ward Davidson, Jr., PortWashington, NY.

[73] Assignee: Robert C. Brown, Jr., Highwood, lll.

; a part interest 22 Filed: July 31,1972

21 Appl. No.: 276,718

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.115,502, Feb. 16,

1971, abandoned.

[75] Inventor:

2,086,227 7/1937 l-luck 101/425 2,525,982 lO/l950 Wescott... 101/4252,909,117 10/1959 Crissy 101/137 3,425,345 2/1969 Gates 101/425 X3,452,672 7/1969 Schunemann 101/229 X Primary ExaminerClyde l.Coughenour Att0rneyRobert C. Brown, Jr. et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for producing multiple high qualitycopies of each of a series of one or two sided originals on ordinarypaper while obtaining maximum net production in terms of both the numberof originals copied and the number of copies produced, wherein a firstright reading offset lithographic master or pair of masters are producedby known means from one or both sides of a first original, processed,pre-wet and attached to the plate holding surface or surfaces of anoffset lithographic duplicator which then produces the desired number ofone or two sided copies of the first original, with the image or imageson the master or pair of masters being dampened (if required), inked andthen offset onto a first offset blanket of first pair of offset blanketsfrom which said image or images are in turn offset onto one or bothsides of ordinary copy paper. While these copies from the first originalare being run, a second master or pair of masters are being producedfrom the second original, processed and pre-wet. When the desired numberof one or two sided copies of the first original have been produced, thefirst master or pair of masters are ejected. The second master or pairof masters are then immediately attached to the plate holding surface orsurfaces and the process repeated.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures COPIER-DUPLICATOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of copendingapplication Ser. No. 115,502, filed Feb. 16, 1971, now abandoned.

As the market for copiers has grown and expanded, it has been found thatcopiers which can produce copies on any kind of ordinary copy paper aremuch preferred to copiers which are limited to producing copies only onspecific copy sheets which have been previously treated or coated.

Originally the speed at which copiers would operate made it economicallyimpractical to use them where more than or a dozen copies of eachoriginal were required. More recently what are known ascopierduplicators" have appeared which operate at higher speeds andwhich therefore are proving to be useful and economical where largernumbers of copies are desired from each original.

In addition, users of copiers and copier duplicators are demandingcopies of better and more consistent quality.

Further, since many of the originals of which copies are made carryimages on both sides of the sheet it is desired to produce copies whichsimilarly have the two images which appear on the two sides of theoriginal on the two sides of the copies produced.

A number of copiers exist on the market today which can produce copiesof good quality but only on special copy paper which has been previouslytreated or coated and which cannot produce such copies at the speedsrequired to compete in the so-called copier' duplicator market. Many ofthese copiers can produce copies from either side of a two sidedoriginal and in turn many of these copiers can produce copies which inturn may be used as lithographic masters.

Copier-duplicators are being produced which utilize such copiers toproduce a lithographic master from one side of either a one or two sidedoriginal and which include means by which the original is then ejectedand said lithographic master is automatically processed, pre-wet andattached to the plate cylinder of a direct lithographic duplicator wherethe surface of the plate is then automatically dampened and inked, afterwhich a preset number of copies of ordinary copy paper are fed throughthe direct lithographic duplicator and the image from the lithographicmaster printed directly on the surface of successive copy sheets whichare then.

delivered into a hopper.

While these copies are being produced, another similar lithographicmaster is being produced, processed and pre-wet from another original.When the desired preset number of copies have been produced from thefirst lithographic master, it is automatically ejected into a separatereceiving hopper and the second lithographic master is automaticallyattached to the plate cylinder of the direct lithographic duplicator andthe process is repeated.

The image produced on the lithographic master by the copying device is amirror image of the image appearing on the original and it istransferred directly from the surface of the master onto the successivesheets of copy paper where it appears as a right reading image which isa copy of the original.

The quality of the copy which can be produced by direct lithographywherein the image is transferred directly from the surface of thelithographic plate onto the copy paper is inferior to the quality whichcan be produced when the image from a right reading lithographic masteris first offset onto a resilient off-set blanket (where it then appearsas a mirror image of the original) and thereafter transferred from thesurface of the resilient blanket onto the surface of the copy paper.

However, when the offset duplicating process is used, the residual imagefrom the first lithographic master must be cleaned from the surface ofthe offset blanket before the image from a second lithographic mastermay be offset onto the surface of the blanket. While automatic blanketcleaners for performing this operation automatically are known, the timerequired for the blanket cleaning process is such that if an offsetlithographic duplicator were used instead of a direct lithographicduplicator, the net production that could be obtained would beconsiderably reduced because of the time interval that would be requiredto clean the blanket after running one lithographic master beforerunning the next one.

With the direct lithographic duplicator, there is no blanket to becleaned and a second master may be attached immediately after the firstone has been ejected.

With existing copier-duplicators of this type, if both sides of twosided originals are to be copied either one of two methods must befollowed: In one case the copies that have been made of one side ofa twosided original may be turned over and reinserted in the feeder for copypaper and then a copy of the other side of the original produced on theother side of the copy sheets. This is time-consuming and interrupts therhythm of the process upon which net production depends when copies of anumber of originals are being run successively. If copies are made ofone side of a series of two sided originals and then all of the copiesfrom all of these originals are turned over and reinserted into thefeeder for copy paper and the second side of the originals then runthrough, it has been found as a practical matter to be extremelydifficult to say the least to insure that all of the copies end up withthe right images on the two sides thereof and for this reason thismethod is seldom if ever used as a practical matter.

A second method that may be used is to first produce copies of one sideof a two sided original and then produce copies of the other side of thesame original and to then staple the two sheets together back-to-back ineach case to simulate the original with the copies in each caseconsisting of two sheets stapled together with one sheet being a copy ofone side of the original and the other sheet being a copy of the secondside of the original.

The method of the present invention makes it possible to produce copiesof the higher quality which can be obtained through the use of an offsetduplicator instead of a direct lithographic duplicator while eliminatingthe lost time required for the cleaning of the offset blanket before asecond lithographic master may be attached and run.

The method and apparatus disclosed also provides means by which copiesof a two sided original may be sumultaneously produced on the two sidesof sheets of ordinary copy paper. In this case, too, the copies areproduced by offset lithography, not by direct lithography and thewaiting period for cleaning the blanket between the production of copiesfrom different originals is also eliminated. It is thus possible byusing the method and apparatus of the present invention to produce highquality copies on ordinary copy paper from either one or two sidedoriginals at high production speeds in terms of the number of copysheets delivered per hour and also at high net production in terms ofthe number of different originals from which copies may be produced in agiven period of time.

The attached drawings illustrate diagrammatically several alternativetypes of apparatus by which the method of the present invention may beperformed.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of apparatus by means of which a seriesof preprocessed and pre-wet right reading lithographic masters may besuccessively attached to the plate supporting surface of an offsetduplicator and a predetermined number of offset copies produced onordinary paper from each successive master. The apparatus of P16. 1 willproduce copies on one side of the copy paper at a time from either onesided originals or from one side of two sided originals,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of apparatus by means of whichtwo previously processed and prewet right reading lithographic mastersbearing images of surfaces two sides of a two sided original may beattached to two plate supporting surfaces of an offset duplicatorcapable of printing two sides of a sheet simultaneously on sheets ofordinary copy paper with both sides of the sheet being printed on theoffset lithographic duplicating process and with the ability to attachand run successive pairs of such offset masters without waiting to cleanthe residual image from the previous run from the offset blanketsinvolved.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the way in which a copier capableof producing right reading offset lithographic masters together withmeans for processing and pre-wetting such masters could be combined withthe offset duplicator of FIGS. 1 or 2 to form an integratedcopier-duplicator.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic showing of an alternative means by which thecopy sheets of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 and bearing images onboth sides thereof could be stripped and delivered.

Referring now to FIG. 1, number 1 is a large cylinder on which aremounted a plate segment 2 having plate clamping means 3 by means ofwhich an offset lithographic master 38 may be held in position on thesurface of the segment and an impression segment 4 which carries liftercams 8 to prevent the ink and dampening form rollers from contacting thesurface of the impression segment. At the leading edge of the impressionsegment are grippers which seize a sheet of copy paper and carry itthrough the bite between cylinder 1 and cylinder 9 to the point wherestripper fingers 26 strip the sheet away from the impression segment asthe grippers 5 release the sheet so that the leading edge of the sheetis presented to the delivery rollers 27 which in turn deliver it intothe receiving hopper 28 where the printed copy sheets are accumulated at39. Cylinder 9 is a blanket cylinder mounted to rotate about aneccentrically mounted shaft 11 for movement toward and away from thelarge cylinder 1. The effective printing diameter of blanket cylinder 9together with the lithographic blanket mounted on the surface thereof isequal to one-half the effective printing diameter of large cylinder 1.The detailed construction and arrangement of the parts may besubstantially as illustrated and described in George U.S. Pat. No.2,759,416. A lithographic master may be automatically attached to platesegment 2 in the manner illustrated and described in Rossetto U.S. Pat.No. 2,935,937, Fischetti U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,768 and Brunt U.S. Pat. No.3,1 12,696 which describe and illustrate the manner in which such alithograph master may be automatically attached to such a plate segmentand then ejected therefrom at the end of the run. When the plates areejected, they are stripped from the plate segment by strippers 29 anddelivered by delivery rollers 30 into hopper 31 where the used platesare accumulated at 40.

After a lithographic master has been attached to the plate segment, itis dampened by dampening rolls 7 and inked by ink rollers 6 which inturn are lifted out of contact with the impression segment 4 by means ofcams 8, all as illustrated and described in George U.S. Pat. No.2,798,425.

Copy sheets 18 are fed from a stack constituting a supply of such sheetsby means of a sucker foot 19 into pull out rollers 20 all as illustratedand described in Davidson U.S. Pat. No. 1,963,694. Double sheets arethen ejected and deflected into a receiver for rejected sheets 22, allas illustrated and described in Davidson U.S. Pat. Re. No. 20,581.

The individual copy sheets are then conveyed by conveyor 23 which may beof the type shown in Davidson U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,296 or Trydal U.S.Pat. No. 2,294,504 to stop fingers 25 and feed roll mechanism 24 whichmay be of the type shown in Davidson U.S. Pat. No. 2,246,508 or DavidsonU.S. Pat. No. 2,249,505 or preferably to paper feeding mechanism such asthat shown in Fischetti U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,768 or Brunt U.S. Pat. No.3,112,696.

There is-an automatic blanket cleaner 15 which may be of the type shownin George U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,029 of the type shown in George U.S. Pat.No. 2,759,416 or of the type shown in Clausen U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,934.The means by which the automatic sequencing to be described herein maybe accomplished, may follow the teachings of George U.S. Pat. No.2,756,672, Tonkin U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,412,676 or 3,508,490 or 3,496,864, orBurger U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,857, or Mignone U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,336.

There is a second blanket cylinder 12 mounted in the position shown inFIG. 1 and also rotating about an eccentrically mounted shaft 14 in themanner described for blanket cylinder 9. Blanket cylinder 12 carries alithographic offset blanket 13 on its surface. Blanket cleaner 15 hastwo blanket cleaning sponge like surfaces 16 and 17, both of which aresupplied with blanket cleaning fluid from an external source throughtube 42. Blanket cleaner 15 is mounted as shown in FIG. 1 so that it maypivot into contact with either blanket 10 on blanket cylinder 9 or intocontact with blanket 13 on blanket cylinder 12. There is a tray 41 asseen in FIG. I mounted between blanket cylinder 9 and blanket cylinder12 and above large cylinder 1 in a position to catch any drippings ofblanket cleaning fluid that may drop from out of the blanket cleaner 15.

The operation of the device illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 is asfollows. The first of a series of right reading lithographic offsetmasters is presented in position on guide rails 32 and 33 after havingbeen produced, processed and pre-wet.

Guide rails 32 and 33 then move into their dotted line positions as seenin FIG. 1 causing plate 34 to drop onto the moving tapes of conveyor 23which convey the lithographic plate or master to the stop fingers 25 andfeed rolls 24. As the leading edge of the plate segment 2 passes theposition of the stop fingers and feed rolls 25 and 24, the plate holdinggrippers 3 are open and the stop fingers and feed rolls workcooperatively with the plate holding grippers 3 at the leading edge ofthe plate segment to present the leading edge of the plate into thegrippers 3 and seize and hold the plate in position on the surface ofplate segment 2. The detail of this transfer may be as described andillustrated in Rossetto U.S. Pat. No. 2,935,397, Fischetti U.S. Pat. No.2,990,768 and Brunt U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,696.

As large cylinder 1 continues to revolve in a counterclockwise directionas seen in FIG. 1, the lithographic offset master shown at 38 is carriedby the damping rolls 7 and the inking rolls 6 on each revolution oflarge cylinder 1. Blanket cylinder 12 is held out of contact with largecylinder 1 whereas blanket cylinder 9 moves into and out of cntact withlarge cylinder 1 in response to the presence or absence of sheets ofcopy paper as illustrated and described in George U.S. Pat. No.2,759,416. Copy sheets are then fed from the supply at 18 and thepresence of copy sheets causes blanket cylinder 9 to be latched intocontact with large cylinder 1 so that the right reading image on plate38 on segment 2 is transferred onto the surface of blanket mounted onblanket cylinder 9.

Copy sheets are fed to every other revolution of blanket cylinder 9, orin other words, to each revolution of large cylinder 1 timed to be fedby the stop finger and feed roll mechanism and 24 into the grippers 5 atthe leading edge of the impression segment, all as illustrated anddescribed in Geroge U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,416. The grippers 5 hold theleading edge of the sheet of copy paper and carry it through the bitebetween large cylinder 1 and blanket cylinder 9 so that impressionsegment 4 presses the sheet against the surface of resilient blanket 10causing the image that was transferred thereto from plate 38 to be inturn transferred or offset onto the face of the copy paper. As thegrippers 5 approach the stripper fingers 26, the grippers open and theleading edge of the sheet is stripped from the impression segment 4 bythe stripper fingers 26 and passes into the bite of the delivery rolls27 which deliver the sheet into the hopper 28 where the copy sheetsaccumulate at 39. The stripping and delivery of the sheets is asdescribed in Dell U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,462 or in George U.S. Pat. No.2,759,416.

A preset number of copies are thus fed, printed and and delivered andwhile this process is taking place, a second right reading lithographicoffset master or plate is delivered at position 34 on guide rails 32 and33.

After the preset number of copies have been produced, the lithographicplate or master 38 is released by the grippers 3 as the leading edge ofplate segment approaches stripper fingers 29 and the lithographic masteris then delivered into delivery rollers which in turn deliver it intohopper 31 where the used plates accumulate at 40.

The programming may be as shown and described in Mignone U.S. Pat. No.3,451,336 and the release and delivery of the lithographic paper mastermay be accomplished in the manner illustrated and described in RossettoU.S. Pat. No. 2,935,937 or Fischetti U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,768 or BruntU.S. Pat. No. 3,112,696.

As the first lithographic master is ejected as described, blanketcylinder 9 moves out of contact with large cylinder 1 and the spongesurface 16 of blanket cleaner 15 pivots into contact with the blanket 10carried by blanket cylinder 9. Blanket cylinder 12 carrying blanket 13moves into the control of the presence or absence of copy sheets beingfed from the supply at 18 and remains out of contact with large cylinder1 when copy sheets are not being fed but moves into contact with largecylinder 1 when copy sheets are fed from the supply at 18.

Also, as the first plate is ejected into the hopper 31, the second plateat 34 is dropped onto conveyor 23 as previously described and is carriedby conveyor 23 to the stops 25 and then automatically attached to theplate segment 2 through the co-operative action of the stop fingers 25,the feed rollers 24 and the plate holding grippers 3 as the grippers 3next pass the position on the stop fingers 25, all as previouslydescribed. The second lithographic master is then dampened by thedampening rollers 7 and inked by the ink rollers 6 on each revolution oflarge cylinder 1 and as sheets are again fed from the supply at 18,blanket cylinder 12 latches into engagement with large cylinder 1 andthe right reading image on the second plate now carried by plate segment2 is offset onto the surface of blanket 13 so that copy sheets fed togrippers 5 at the leading edge of impression segment 4 are now nottouched by blanket 10 on blanket cylinder 9 which is held out ofengagement with large cylinder 1 but are printed by being pressed byimpression segment 4 against the resilient surface of blanket 13 so thatthe inked image on blanket 13 is offset onto the top surface of thesheets and as previously described, these sheets are released bygrippers 5, stripped by strippers 26 and delivered by dey livery rollers27 into hopper 28 onto the supply of copy sheets 39.

While the predetermined number of copies to be produced from this secondplate are being thus fed, printed and delivered, a third right readinglithographic master having been produced, processed and pre-wet ispresented at position 34 on guide rails 32 and 33 and blanket cleaner l5cleans the residual image from the first plate from the surface ofblanket 10 on blanket cylinder 9 and then moves into a neutral positionbetween cylinders 9 and 12 and the blanket cleaning fluid on the surfaceof blanket 10 dries through evaporation.

Upon the completion of the printing and delivery of the preset number ofcopies to be produced from this second plate, the second plate isejected and delivered into the hopper for used plates 31 and comes torest at the position and as this takes place, blanket cylinder 12 movesout of engagement with large cylinder 1 and the blanket cleaner 15 movesinto position so that the cleaning sponge 17 contacts the surface ofblanket 13 on blanket cylinder 12. At the same time, the thirdlithographic master at position 34 is dropped onto the conveyor 23 andthe process is repeated with the image from the third plate being offsetagain onto blanket 10 on blanket cylinder 9 as copy sheets are fed fromthe supply at 18.

This process is repeated as this series of right reading lithographicmasters is presented successively to the position 34 and thenautomatically attached to the plate segment 2 with the preset number ofcopies then being fed, printed and delivered, all as previouslydescribed but with each successive plate being printed from an alternateone of the two blankets 10 and 13 mounted on blanket cylinders 9 and 12and with the blanket cylinder which is not being used having theresidual image from the previous plate cleaned from it during the run,during which time the next plate is produced, processed, pre-wet andpresented at the position 34 ready for use as soon as the run in processhas been completed.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the manner in which a copierplate maker 35, a processor 36 and a pre-wetter 60 may be positioned toautomatically produce, process and pre-wet a series of right readinglithographic masters into position 34 on guide rails 32 and 33 in rhythmwith the operation of the duplicator as previously described.

All of this could be timed and controlled in the manner described inMignone U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,336 with the exception that the copier platemaker would be of the type commonly used to make right readinglithographic masters instead of the mirror image lithographic masters asdescribed in the Mignone patent.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of apparatus by which the methodof the invention may be employed to produce two sided copies on ordinarycopy paper with the two sides of each sheet being printedsimultaneously.

This apparatus may be used to produce exact copies of two sidedoriginals or to produce two sided copies with the copy on one side beinga reproduction on one original and the copy on the other side being areproduction of another original. Also, this apparatus may be used toproduce one sided copies.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, the large cylinder in this case has aneffective printing diameter three times the effective printing diameterof the smaller cylinders. Large cylinder 101 carries three segments ofapproximately equal circumferential length. Plate segment 102 carries aplate 138 on its surface held in position by plate holding grippers 103at its leading edge. Blanket segment 104 carries a lithographic blanket143 on its surface and copy sheet grippers 105 at its leading edge. Atits sides it carries lifter cams 108 which act to lift the ink anddamping form rolls out of contact with blanket surface 143.

Blanket segment 144 carries a lithographic blanket 147 on its surfaceand has copy sheet grippers 145 at its leading edge and carries liftercams 146 at either side to prevent the ink and dampening form rolls fromcontacting the surface of blanket 147. There are two blanket drums 109and 112 which are mounted to turn about eccentrically mounted shafts 111and 114, respectively, and which carry blankets 110 and 113 on theirsurfaces, all as previously described with respect to the similarblanket drums 9 and 12 of FIG. 1.

Also, blanket cleaner 115 is mounted in a position which allows it topivot so that either sponge surface 116 contacts blanket 110 on blanketcylinder 109 or sponge surface 117 contacts blanket 113 on blanketcylinder 112 or the blanket cleaner rests in a neutral position betweenthe two blanket cylinders in which position neither blanket 110 nor 113are contacted by the blanket cleaner sponges.

Blanket cleaning fluid is fed to the blanket cleaning sponges from anoutside source through tube 142 and tray 141 catches any drippings fromthe blanket cleaner as described with respect to the FIG. 1construction. The operation of the feeder which feeds sheets of copypaper from the supply at 118, the separator 119, the pull out rolls 120,the double sheet eliminator 121 and the conveyor 123, the feed rolls 124and the stop fingers 125 all operate similarly to the equivalent partspreviously described in the FIG. 1 construction.

Similarly, guide rails 132 and 133 hold a right reading processed andpre-wet lithographic master at position 134.

The feeder acts to feed sheets to every third revolution of the blanketcylinders 109 and 112 or to each revolution of large cylinder 101. Suchsheets are fed either to the paper grippers at the leading edge ofblanket segment 144 or to the grippers 105 at the leading edge ofblanket segment 104 as will hereinafter be described. Printed sheets arestripped by stripping fingers 126, presented to delivery rollers 127 anddelivered into the hopper 128 and accumulate at 139 in a manner similarto that described for the FIG. 1 construction.

Similarly, plates from position 134 are dropped onto conveyor 123 andattached to plate segment 102 by the cooperative action of stop fingers125, feed rolls 124 and plate grippers 103 all in the manner describedfor the FIG. 1 construction. Near the bottom oflarge cylinder 101 thereis a plate cylinder 148 which has an effective printing diameter equalto the effective printing diameter of the two blanket cylinders 109 and112 and also one-third the effective printing diameter of large cylinder101. Previously produced, processed and prewet plates are presented onguide rails and 156 in position 163 and dropped onto conveyor 157 whichconveys them to stop fingers 159. There are plate holding grippers 151at the leading edge of plate cylinder 148 and these plate holdinggrippers work in cooperation with stop fingers 159 and feed rolls 158 toautomatically attach plates to plate cylinder 148 in a manner similar tothat described for the automatic attachment of plates to segment 2 ofFIG. 1 and to segment 102 of FIG. 3.

Plate cylinder 148 is mounted to rotate about a shaft 150 which iseccentrically mounted in the manner previously described with respect toblanket cylinders 109 and 112. Through this eccentric mounting platecylinder 148 is caused to remain out of contact with plate segment 102and to selectively roll in contact with either blanket 143 on segment104 and not with blanket 147 on segment 144 or to roll in contactblanket 147 on segment 144 and not with blanket 143 on segment 104 aswill be hereinafter described.

A plate on plate cylinder 148 is dampened by dampening rollers 154 andinked by ink rollers 106 on each revolution that it makes. lnkingmechanism 106 delivers ink to the plate at 138 on plate segment 102 onlarge cylinder 101 through form rollers 161 and to plate 149 on platecylinder 148 through form rollers 162 in the manner illustrated anddescribed in Davidson Patent 2,911,107.

Plates are ejected from plate cylinder 148 by being released by plateholding grippers 151 and stripped away by strippers 152 into deliveryrollers 153 which deliver the plates onto a conveyor 164 which in turncarries them to another set of delivery rollers 165 which deposits theminto hopper where they accumulate at 166.

A blanket cleaner 167 is arranged as shown in FIG. 3 in cooperation withlarge cylinder 101 and controlled so that its sponge like cleaningsurface 168 may be caused to contact either blanket 143 on blanketsegment 104 or blanket 147 on blanket segment 144 but only one or theother during any given run and never contacts the plate at 138 on platesegment 102. Blanket cleaning fluid is fed to the blanket cleaner froman external source through a tube 169 and a tray 170 is provided tocatch any drippings that may fall from blanket cleaner 167. The detailof the operation of the various parts that are shown diagrammaticallyand the control of the sequence of events as hereinafter describedfollow the teachings of the patents previously referred to in describingsimilar apparatus and control functions with respect to the FIG. 1apparatus.

The functioning of the FIG. 2 apparatus is as follows:

Separate right reading lithographic masters, one bearing the image fromone side of a two sided original and the other bearing an image from theother side of the same two sided original (or bearing two differentimages from two different originals which it is desired to reproduce onopposite sides of the same copy sheets) are presented at positions 134and 163 having been previously processed and pre-wet. Guide rails 132and 133 move into their dotted line positions simultaneously with themoving of guide rails 155 and 156 into their dotted line positions sothat the master at position 134 is dropped onto the conveyor 123 at thesame time that the master at position 163 is dropped onto the conveyor157. The two lithographic plates or masters are then conveyed to theirrespective stop fingers 125 and 159 and the plate from position 134 isautomatically attached to plate segment 102 through the cooperation ofstop fingers 125, feed rolls 124 and plate grippers 103 as previouslydescribed and the plate from position 163 is similarly automaticallyattached to plate cylinder 148 through the cooperative action of stopfingers 159, feed rolls 158 and plate grippers 151, all as previouslydescribed. The right reading lithographic master at position 134 ispresented to that position with its image facing upwardly and the rightreading lithographic master at position 163 is presented to thatposition with its image facing down.

The plate from position 134 is then held in position 138 on platesegment 102 and is dampened by dampening rollers 107 and inked by inkform rolls 161 on each revolution of large cylinder 101.

The plate from position 163 is then held in position 149 on platecylinder 148 and is dampened by the dampening rollers 154 and inked bythe ink form rollers 162 on each revolution of plate cylinder 148.

Blanket 113 on blanket cylinder 112 is held out of contact with largecylinder 101 and blanket cylinder 109 carrying blanket 110 is held outof contact with both blanket segment 104 and blanket segment 144 butcontacts the plate at position 138 on plate segment 102 in response tothe presence or absence of sheets being fed from the supply at 118.

The plate at position 149 on plate cylinder 148 is held out of contactwith the plate on plate segment 102 and with the blanket 147 on blanketsegment 144 but contacts blanket 143 on blanket segment 104 and rolls incontact therewith in response to the feeding of paper from the supply at118 but remains out of contact with blanket 143 when no paper is beingfed from the supply at 118.

As sheets are fed from the supply at 1 18, blanket 110 on blanketcylinder 109 rolls in contact with the plate at 138 on plate segment 102and the plate at 149 on plate cylinder 148 rolls in contact with theblanket 143 on blanket segment 104. Copy sheets are fed one for eachrevolution of large cylinder 101 timed to be delivered by stop fingers125 and feed rolls 124 into the paper grippers 105 at the leading edgeof blanket segment 104. As each sheet passes between the bite of blanketcylinder 109 and large cylinder 101, the sheet is squeezed betweenblanket 110 on blanket cylinder 109 and blanket 143 on blanket segment104 and has the image from blanket 110 printed on its top surface andthe image from blanket 143 printed on its bottom surface simultaneously.As the paper grippers 105 approach the stripper fingers 126 they open torelease the sheet and the sheet is stripped from blanket 143 by stripperfingers 126 delivered into delivery rollers 127, and in turn deliveredinto the hopper 128 where the copies accumulate at 139.

This process continues until the preset number of sheets have been thusprinted at which point the feeding of the sheets stops.

While the sheets are being printed, a second pair of plates have beenprocessed, pre-etched and presented to positions 134 and 163.

Upon the cessation of the feeding of sheets, blanket cylinder 109 movesout of contact with large cylinder 101 and plate cylinder 148 moves outof contact with large cylinder 101. The plate at 138 is released by theplate gripping fingers 103 as they approach the strippers 129, the plateis stripped by the strippers 129 and delivered by the delivery rollers130 into the hopper 131 where the plates accumulate at 140. At the sametime the plate at 149 is released by the plate holding grippers 151 asthey approach the strippers 152 and the plate is thereby stripped by thestrippers 152 presented to the delivery rollers 153 and out onto theconveyor 164 which in turn carries it to the second set of deliveryrollers 165 which in turn deliver it into the hopper 190 where theplates accumulate at 166. At the same time, blanket cleaner moves intoposition so that blanket cleaner sponge 116 contacts the surface ofblanket 110 to clean the residual image from the surface thereof. At thesame time, blanket cleaner 167 moves into position so that sponge 168contacts the surface of blanket 143 carried on blanket segment 104 toremove the residual image therefrom.

At the same time, blanket cylinder 112 moves into the control of thesensing mechanism so that as sheets are fed from the supply 118 it willmove into contact with the plate at 138 on plate segment 102. Similarly,cylinder 148 is latched out of contact with blanket 143 on blanketsegment 104, but moves into the control of the sensing mechanism so thatit will roll in contact with blanket 147 on blanket segment 144 inresponse to the feeding of sheets from the supply at 118.

The new plates at positions 134 and 163 are released and drop onto theconveyors 123 and 157 and move into contact with the stop fingers and159, respectively. They are then automatically attached to plate segment102 and plate cylinder 148 as previously described. They are then eachinked and dampened as previously described and sheets are once again fedfrom the supply at 118 with one sheet being fed to each revolution ofthe large cylinder 101 but now timed to be fed to the paper grippers atthe leading edge of blanket segment 144. Thus, on each revolution oflarge cylinder 101, the image on the plate at 138 is transferred to theblanket 113 on blanket cylinder 112 and the image on the plate at 149 onplate cylinder 148 is transferred to the blanket 147 of blanket segment144 and a sheet is fed to the grippers 145 at the leading edge ofblanket segment 144 and is carried through the bite between largecylinder 101 and blanket cylinder 112 and as it passes through the biteit is squeezed between blanket 113 and blanket 147 thus having the imagefrom the plate at 138 printed on its top surface and the image from theplate 149 printed on its bottom surface simultaneously. As the grippers145 approach the stripper fingers 126 they open and release the sheetand the sheet is stripped by the stripper fingers 126, delivered intothe delivery rollers 127, which in turn deliver it onto the supply at139 in the hopper 128.

While the preset number of sheets is thus being fed, the next pair ofplates are being produced, processed and prewet and presented topositions 134 and 136 and blanket 110 on blanket cylinder 109 is beingcleaned and then allowed to dry by evaporation and the blanket 143 onblanket segment 104 is being cleaned and then allowed to dry byevaporation.

When the preset number of copies have been fed from the supply at 118and delivered into the hopper 128, the feeder ceases to feed copysheets, blanket cylinder 112 and plate cylinder 148 move out of contactwith large cylinder 101 in response to the stoppage of feeding ofsheets, the plate at 138 is released, stripped and delivered into thesupply at 148 in hopper 131 and the plate at 149 is released andstripped and delivered into the supply at 166 in hopper 190. Blanketcleaner 115 swings into position so that sponge surface 117 contactsblanket 113 on blanket cylinder 112 and blanket cleaner 167 moves intoposition so that sponge surface 168 contacts blanket 147 on blanketsegment 144.

Blanket cylinder 109 moves back into the control of the sensingmechanism so that when sheets are again fed from the supply at 118 itwill move into contact with the plate at 138 on plate segment 102 andplate cylinder 148 is latched out of contact with blanket segment 144but moves back into control of the sensing mechanism so that it willroll in contact with the blanket 143 on blanket segment 104 when sheetsare again fed from the supply at 118. The plates in positions 134 and163 are released and automatically attached to plate segment 102 andplate cylinder 148 respectively as previously described. Each of theseplates is dampened and inked on each revolution of large cylinder 101and plate cylinder 148, respectively, and the feeder again beginsfeeding the next preset number of sheets, this time feeding one sheet toeach revolution of the large cylinder 101 but timed to be fed to thepaper grippers 105 at the leading edge of blanket segment 104 and onceagain as the sheets pass between the bite of blanket segment 109 andlarge cylinder 101, they are printed with the image from blanket 110being printed on their top surface and the image from blanket 143 beingprinted on their bottom surface.

This process is repeated as the series of pairs of plates from differenttwo sided originals are produced, processed, pre-wet and presentedsuccessively to positions 134 and 163.

In FIG. 3, the copier 35 that produces the right reading lithographicmasters and passes them through the processor 36 and the pre-wetter 60,may be either of the type that delivers individual plates or may be ofthe type that produces such plates from a roll of material in which casea guilotine cutter represented by 37 in FIG. 3 cuts each individualplate from the roll as it is presented onto the guides 32 and 33 whereit assumes position 34 and proceeds as previously described.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative method of stripping and delivering thecopy sheets which may be particularly useful in the FIG. 2 configurationin which the copy sheets are printed simultaneously on both sides andmay in some instances present stripping and delivery problems if thestrippers and delivery rollers of the type illustrated at 126 and 127are employed.

The alternative construction illustrated in FIG. 4 consists of a chaindelivery mechanism which may be of the type illustrated and described indetail in Thomsen US. Pat. No. 2,730,364 in which two pairs of sprockets173 and 174 carry parallel spaced chains 175 which in turn carry betweenthem gripper bars 176 and 177.

The length of the chains 175 is equal to the circumference of largecylinder 101 and gripper bar 176 is placed so that it will always comeinto coincidence with gripper 145 on blanket segment 144 and gripper bar177 is so placed that it will always come into coincidence with papergripper at the leading edge of blanket segment 104.

Thus, if sheets are being fed to gripper at the leading edge of blanketsegment 144, the sheet will be transferred from the gripper 145 to thegripper 176 and carried out against the stop 179 at which point thegripper will release it and the sheet will fall onto the stack of sheetsat 139 which is carried by receding support member 180.

Similarly, if sheets are being fed to gripper 105 at the leading edge ofblanket segment 104, then the sheets will be transferred from gripper105 to gripper 177 and similarly carried out against stop 179 at whichpoint they will be released by gripper 177 and dropped upon the stack ofsheets at 139 carried by the receding support member 180 which ismounted and controlled in the manner well known in the art.

When the chain delivery stripping mechanism 172 as illustrated in FIG. 4is used, the hopper 131 for receiving plates ejected from position 138on plate segment 102 is dropped down to the position shown in FIG. 4 anda deflector member 171 is added to guide the plates as they are ejectedonto the stack of previously ejected plates at 140.

It will thus be seen that a method and apparatus have been disclosed bymeans of which high quality copies may be produced on ordinary copypaper with the copy sheets being fed, printed and delivered at arelatively high number of sheets per hour, and by means of which thetime between the production of the last copy from one master or pair ofmasters and the production of the first copy from the next master orpair of masters is reduced to a minimum thereby making it possible toproduce copies from a relatively large number of masters in any givenperiod of time.

In addition, a method and apparatus have been disclosed whereby highquality two sided copies of two sided originals may be produced onordinary copy paper while still retaining the advantages of producing arelatively high number of copies per hour and producing copies of arelatively large number of originals within a given period of time.

Under most operating conditions for which this type of equipment will beused, the number of copies to be produced from each original will besufficient that the time required to produce these copies will provideample time for the completion of the cleaning of the blanket or pair ofblankets used to produce the copies from the proceeding master ormasters and to allow the cleaning solution to dry by evaporation.However, it is intended that the sequence of events whether controlledmanually or programmed will be such that if the blanket cleaning andevaporation of the cleaning fluid are completed before the desirednumber of copies are run, then the completion of the desired number ofcopies will trigger.the removal of the master or masters and thestarting of the next cycle whereas if the desired number of copies arecompleted before the blanket or blankets have been cleaned and thecleaning fluid has evaporated (which two events together constitute thecomplete blanket cleaning procedure), then the completion of the blanketcleaning procedure will trigger the ejection of the master or mastersand the start of the next cycle.

It is also contemplated that there could be some overlap between the twocycles in circumstances where it is found that the number of revolutionsof the cylinders required for the evaporation of the cleaning fluidequals the number of revolutions required for the attaching of the nextmaster or masters and of preparation to transfer an inked image to theblanket surface in which case the next cycle could start before thecleaning fluid had completely evaporated since its evaporation would becomplete by the time the feeding of sheets began and the blanketcylinder was latched into contact with the master surface.

It will be clear to one skilled in the art that the offset lithographicmasters could either be produced, processed and pre-wet as has beendescribed herein by means of a copier assembled and synchronized withthe duplicator as illustrated in FlG. 3 and programmed to produce,process and pre-wet masters in synchronization with the duplicator ashas been described or alternatively, in the FlG. 1 construction a seriesof lithographic masters could be prepared separate and apart from theduplicator by any of the many known methods and loaded in sequence intoa master feeder which would take the place of the master introducingguide rails 32 and 33 of FIG. 1. The feeding, pre-wetting, attaching,dampening, inking, blanket cleaning and ejection of masters could thenbe accomplished and programmed in the manner set forth in the TonkinU.S. Pat. No. 3,412,676, the Tonkin U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,490, the TonkinU.S. Pat. No. 3,496,864, or the Berger U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,857.

Similarly, the feeding, attaching and ejecting of masters could beaccomplished in the manner taught by the Gamiter U.S. Pat. No.3,420,169, the Rossetto U.S. Pat. No. 2,935,937, the Fischetti U.S. Pat.No. 2,990,768 or the Brunt U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,696 with the pre-wettingbeing performed in the manner disclosed in the Hilpman U.S. Pat. No.3,144,823 and the blanket cleaning in the manner disclosed in the GeorgeU.S. Pat. No. 2,759,416.

Similarly, in the FIG. 2 configuration previously prepared lithographicmasters could be introduced as just described in place of both themaster supporting guides 132 and 133 and 155 and 156.

Any of these approaches could be combined with the new and novel methodand apparatus disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 shows a single blanket cleaner which can be used to clean eitherof the two blankets 10 or 13, but it is, of course, not necessary to theinvention that only one blanket cleaner be used, and the same purpose 1could be accomplished by having two blanket cleaners,

one to clean blanket 10 on blanket cylinder 9 and the other to cleanblanket 13 on blanket cylinder 12, and these could be used alternatelyin accordance with the disclosure hereinbefore described in thespecification.

While the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated andheretofore described relates the method of the invention to its use inconnection with an offset duplicator as the means for producing multiplecopies, it should be noted that the method disclosed may also be appliedto any copying device in which the copies are produced by means whichinvolves an intermediate, or offset, transfer between a master or anoriginal and the copies produced.

In all such cases there is an intermediate (or offset) member onto whicha mirror image (or latent mirror image) is first transferred from themaster or the original, and from which the image is then transferred (oroffset) onto the copies.

Such an offset or intermediate member may take a number of differentforms including but not limited to cylinders, drums, belts, planarsurfaces etc., any of which may be used as a transfer surface within thescope of the method of the invention disclosed.

A plurality of transfer surfaces may consist of a multiple of suchmembers, or of a single such member together with provisions for usingdifferent portions of such member alternately, in the manner disclosedin describing the method of the invention.

All such copying means, which employ an offset step and a transfersurface, face the same need to clean or to remove the image (or latentimage) from the transfer surface when the running of copies from onemaster or original has been completed and before copies from anothermaster or original may be produced.

The method of this invention, which involves the provision of aplurality of such transfer surfaces and the alternate use thereof, sothat the cleaning of one such transfer surface may take place whilecopies are being run from another, is thus applicable to any copyingmethod or device in which an image (or latent image) is offset from amaster or an original onto a transfer surface, and from there onto thecopies produced.

While the specific embodiment of the invention shown and describedrelates the method of the invention to its use in connection with anoffset duplicator as the means producing multiple copies, the method mayalso be applied to any copying device in which the copies are producedby means which involves an intermediate, or offset, transfer between amaster or an original and the copies produced.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. The method of producing multiple copies from each of a series ofoffset lithographic masters carrying right reading images thereon whichincludes providing:

a. a master supporting surface and means for attaching and removing amaster on said surface,

I). a first offset blanket supporting surface carrying a first offsetblanket thereon,

c. a second offset blanket supporting surface carrying a second offsetblanket thereon, and

d. an impression surface, and which includes the steps of:

l. attaching the first master in the series to the master supportingsurface,

2. inking the image thereon and causing the inked surface of the masterto roll in contact with the contact with the master supporting surface,whereby the inked image is offset onto the surface of the said firstblanket,

3. causing the image bearing surface of the first surface of the firstblanket while holding the sur- 5 blanket to roll against the impressionsurface face of the second blanket out of contact with the while a sheetof copy paper is passed therebemaster supporting surface, whereby theinked tween, whereby the inked image from the first image is offset ontothe surface of the first blanmaster is offset onto the copy paper,

ket, 4. repeating this procedure until the desired num- 3. causing theimage bearing surface of the first l ber of copies from the frist masterhave been problanket to roll against the impression surface duced, whilea sheet of copy paper is passed therebe- 5. removing the first masterfrom the master suptween, whereby the inked image from the first portingsurface and attaching the second master master is offset onto the copypaper, thereto,

4. repeating this procedure until the desired numl 6. inking the imagethereon and causing the inked ber of copies from the first master havebeen prosurface of the second master to roll in contact duced, with thesurface ofa second blanket whereby the 5. removing the first master fromthe master supinked image is offset onto the surface of the said portingsurface and attaching the second master second blanket, thereto, 20 7.causing the image bearing surface of the second 6. inking the imagethereon and causing the inked blanket to roll against the impressionsurface surface of the second master to roll in contact while a sheet ofcopy paper is passed therebewith the surface of the second blanket,whereby tween, whereby the inked image from the second the inked imageis offset onto the surface of the master is offset onto the copy paper,second blanket, 8. repeating this procedure until the desired num- 7.causing the image bearing surface of the second ber of copies from thesecond master have been blanket to roll against the impression surfaceproduced, and while a sheet of copy paper is passed therebe- 9. whilethese copies are being produced from the tween, whereby the inked imagefrom the second second master, holding the surface of the first masteris offset onto the copy paper, blanket out ofcontact with the mastersupporting 8. repeating this procedure until the desired numsurface andthe impression surface and cleaning ber of copies from the second masterhave been the residual ink image from the first master off produced, andthe surface of the first blanket,

9. while these copies are being produced from the 10. removing thesecond master from the master second master, holding the surface of thefirst supporting surface upon the completion of the blanket out ofcontact with the master supporting desired number of copies therefromand attachsurface and the impression surface and cleaning ing the thirdmaster thereto, the residual ink image from the first master off ll.repeating the above procedure but with the the surface of the firstblanket, image from the third master being offset from the 10. removingthe second master from the master 40 master to a blanket other than thesecond blansupporting surface upon the completion of the ket and fromthere to the copy paper and with desired number of copies therefrom andattachthe second blanket being held out of contact with ing the thirdmaster thereto, the master supporting surface and the impression ll.repeating the above procedure but with the surface, and the residualimage from the second image from the third master being offset from themaster to the first blanket and from there to the copy paper and withthe second blanket being master being cleaned therfrom during therunning of copies from the third master. 3. The method of producingmultiple two sided copies from each of a series of pairs of offsetlithographic masters carrying right reading images thereon, whichincludes providing:

a. a first master supporting surface and means for attaching andremoving a master on said surface, b. a second master supporting surfaceand means for attaching and removing a master on said surface,

held out of contact with the master supporting surface and theimpression surface and the residual ink image from the second masterbeing cleaned therefrom during the running of copies from the thirdmaster. 2. The method of producing multiple copies from each of a seriesof offset lithographic masters carrying right reading images thereonwhich includes providing: c. a plurality of pairs of offset blanketsupporting sura, a master supporting surface and means for attachfaceswith each surface of each pair carrying an offing and removing a masteron said surface, set blanket thereon, and which includes the steps b. aplurality of offset blanket supporting surfaces of:

each carrying an offset blanket thereon, and l. attaching the twomasters of the first pair of the 6O c. an impression surface, and whichincludes the series to the first and second master supporting steps of:surfaces respectively,

2. inking the image on each master of the pair and causing the inkedsurfaces of the two masters to roll in contact with the two surfacesrespectively of the first pair of blankets on the first pair of blanketsupporting surfaces while holding the surfaces of the other pair orpairs of blankets out I. attaching the first master in the series to themaster supporting surface,

2. inking the image thereon and causing the inked surface of the masterto roll in contact with the surface of a first blanket while holding thesurface of the other blanket or blankets out of of contact with themaster supporting surfaces, whereby the said inked images are offsetonto the surfaces of the first pair of said blankets respectively,

d. means to bring a selected one of the transfer surfaces into contactwith successive sheets of copy paper, and which includes the steps of:

1. applying the first original in the series to the sup- 3. causing thetwo image bearing surfaces of the porting surface for originals,

two blankets of the first pair to roll against each 2. causing a mirrorimage of the image on the first other while a sheet of copy paper ispassed thereoriginal to be transferred onto the first transfer between,whereby the inked images from the two surface, but not onto the secondtransfer surface, masters of the first pair of the series are offset 3.causing the said mirror image bearing first transonto the two sides ofthe sheet of copy paper, fer surface to contact a sheet of copy paper 4.repeating this procedure until the desired numwhereby the right readingimage from the first ber of copies from the first pair of masters in theoriginal is offset onto the copy paper, series have been produced, 4.repeating this procedure until the desired num- 5. removing the twomasters of the first pair from ber of copies from the first originalhave been the first and second master supporting surfaces produced,respectively and attaching the two masters of the 5. removing the firstoriginal from the supporting second pair of the series thereto, surfacefor originals and applying the second 6. inking the image on each masterof the second original thereto,

pair and causing the inked surfaces of the two 6. causing a mirror imageof the image on the second masters of the second pair to roll in contactwith original to be transferred onto the second transfer the twosurfaces respectively of a second pair of surface, blankets on a secondpair of blanket supporting 7. causing the said mirror image bearingsecond surfaces whereby the said inked images are offset transfersurface to contact a sheet of copy paper, onto the surfaces of thesecond pair of said blanwhereby the right reading image from the secondkets respectively, original is offset onto the copy paper,

7. causing the image bearing surfaces of the two 8. repeating thisprocedure until the desired numblankets of the second pair to rollagainst each ber of copies from the second original have been otherwhile a sheet of copy paper is passed thereproduced, and between,whereby the inked images from the two 9. while these copies are beingproduced from the masters of the second pair of the series are offsetsecond original, keeping the first transfer surface onto the two sidesof the sheet of copy paper, out of contact with the supporting surfacefor 8. repeating this procedure until the desired numoriginals and withthe copy paper, and cleaning ber of copies from the second pair ofmasters in the residual image from the first original off the the serieshave been produced, and first transfer surface,

9. while these copies are being produced from the 10. removing thesecond original from the supportsecond pair of masters in the series,holding the ing surface for originals and applying the third suraces ofthe two blankets of the first pair of original thereto, blankets out ofcontact with the master support- I l. repeating the above procedure butwith the ing and other blanket supporting surfaces and image from thethird original being transferred cleaning the residual ink images fromthe first from there third original to the first transfer surpair ofmasters off their surfaces, face and from tere to the copy paper andwith the 10. removing the two masters of the second pair of secondtransfer surface being kept out of contact masters from the first andsecond master supwith the supporting surface for originals and withporting surfaces respectively upon the complethe copy paper, and theresidual image from the tion of the desired number of copies therefromsecond original being cleaned therefrom during and attaching the twomasters of the third pair of the running of copies from the thirdoriginal. the series thereto, 5. The method of producing multiple copiesfrom 1 l. repeating the above procedure but with the imeach of a seriesof originals having right reading images ages from the two masters ofthe third pair of the thereon which includes providing: series beingoffset from the two masters to the a. a supporting surface for originalsand means for two blankets respectively of a pair of blankets applyingand removing an original on said surface, other than the second pair,and from there to the b. a plurality of transver surfaces, and two sidesof the copy paper, and with the surfaces 0. means for bringing aselected one of said transfer of the two blankets of the second pair ofblankets surfaces into contact with successive sheets of copy being heldout of contact with the master suppaper, and which includes the stepsof: porting and other blanket supporting surfaces 1. applying the firstoriginal in the series to the supand the residual ink images from thesecond pair porting surface for originals, of masters in the seriesbeing cleaned therefrom 2. causing a mirror image of the image on thefirst during the running of copies from the third pair original to betransferred onto a first transfer surof masters in the series.

face, but not onto other transfer surfaces,

3. causing the said mirror image bearing first transfer surface tocontact a sheet of copy paper whereby the right reading image from thefirst original is offset onto the copy paper,

4, repeating this procedure until the desired number of copies from thefirst original have been produced,

4. The method of producing multiple copies from each of a series oforiginals having the right reading images thereon which includesproviding:

a. a supporting surface for originals and means for applying andremoving an original on said surface,

b. a first transfer surface,

c. a second transfer surface,

5. removing the first original from the supporting surface for originalsand applying the second original thereto,

6. causing a mirror image of the image on the secfor applying andremoving an original on said surface,

b. a second supporting surface for originals and means for applying andremoving an original on said surface,

c. a plurality of pairs of transfer surfaces, and which includes thesteps of;

l. applying the two originals of the first pair of the series to thefirst and second supporting surfaces for originals, respectively,

7. causing the said mirror image bearing transfer surfaces of the secondpair thereof to contact the opposite sides of a sheet of copy paper,whereby the right reading images from the two originals of nd originalto be transferred onto a second the second pair of the series are offsetonto the transfer surface, two sides of the sheet of copy paper,

7. causing the ald mirror im g ring second 8. repeating this procedureuntil the desired numtransfer surface to contact a sheet of copy paper bf two id d copies f he second pair of whereby the right reading Imagefrom the Second originals in the series have been produced, and OriginaS Offset OHKO the PY p p 9. while these copies are being thus producedfrom l'epeatmg thlS Procedure uhtll the deslred the second pair oforiginals in the series, keeping her of eoples from the Second orlglhalhave e the two transfer sirfaces of the first pair of trans- Pfoduced,and Whlte these eoples are helhg fer surfaces out of contact withsupporting sur- Produced from the Second Otlglhal, keePlhg the faces fororiginals, with other transfer surfaces first transfer surface out ofcontact with the supl5 and with the surface f the copy paper, d PottmgSurface t ongmalF the PY cleaning the residual images from the firstpair of paper, and cleaning the residual image from the originals offtheir Surfaces first original off the first transfer surface, 10. re- 0.removing the two Originals of the second pair movmg the h f (mgmal h theof originals from the first and second supporting surface for originalsand applying the third origi- Surfaces for originals respectively andapplying nal thereto, ll. repeating the above procedu the two originalsof the third pair of the series but with the image from the thirdoriginal being thereto transferred from the original to a transfersurface 1 l repeaiing the above procedure but with the ogher thanhthesecond transfer h g frorg ages from the two Originals of the third pairof the t eref to t t; copty p pz and t e q series being transferred fromthe said two origitrhhs er suhace emg ept h t 0 Contact wtt nals to thetwo transfer surfaces respectively of the Suppottmg surface t ohtgmthsand wtth the a pair of transfer surfaces other than the second copy hh tthe restduth Image from h secpair, and from there to the two sides ofthe copy ohd tmgmth bthhg Cleaned thhtefmthhunhg the paper; and with thetwo transfer surfaces of the ruhmhg of copies froth the third h secondpair of transfer surfaces being kept out of 6. The method of producingmultiple two sided copcontact with supporting surfaces for originals,ies from each of a series of pairs of originals having with othertransfer surfaces and with the surface right reading images thereon,which includes providing. of he py p p and the residual images from a. afirst supporting surface for originals and means h d l h b t e seconpair 0 ortglnas in t e series elng cleaned therefrom during the runningof two sided copies from the third pair of originals in the series.

7. The method of producing multiple two sided cop- 40 ies from each of asequential series of pairs of originals having right reading imagesthereon, which includes providing:

a. at least one supporting surface for originals and means for applyingand removing an original on 2. causing a mirror image of each of the twoimages sand f on the two originals of the first pair of the Series b. aplurality of pairs of transfer surfaces, and which to be transferredonto the two transfer surfaces mclude5 the Steps of? respectively of thefirst pair of transfer surfaces, PP e two erlglhaleof the first P 0f thebut not onto other pairs of transfer surfaces, 531d sequehttat Senes ofPalrs to a Suppottmg 3. causing the two said mirror image bearingtransface for h D fer surfaces of the first pair thereof to contact theeausihg a mltrow image of each of the t two opposite id f a Sheet f copypaper, ages on the two originals of the first pair of the h b h i h diimages f h two series to be transferred onto the two transfersuroriginals on the first pair of the series are offset facesrespectively of the first P Of transfer om th w id f h Sheet f copypaper, faces, but not onto other pairs of transfer sur- 4. repeatingthis procedure until the desired numfaees,

ber of two sided copies from the first pair of origcausing the two Saidmirror image bearing transinals in the series have been produced, fersurfaces of the first pair thereof to contact the 5. removing the twooriginals of the first pair from 0 Opp site Sides of a Sheet of copypaper, the first and second supporting surfaces for origiwhereby theright reading images from the two nals respectively and applying the twooriginals Originals of the first pair of the series are offset of thesecond pair of the series thereto, onto the two sides of the sheet ofcopy paper,

6. causing a mirror image of each of the two images 4. repeating thisprocedure until the desired numon the two originals of the second pairof the seher of two sided copies from the first pair of origries to betransferred onto the two transfer surfaces respectively of a second pairof transfer surfaces,

inals in the series have been produced, 5. removing the two originals ofthe first pair from the supporting surface for originals and applyingthe two originals of the second pair of the series thereto,

6. causing a mirror image of each of the two images on the two originalsof the second pair of the series to be transferred onto the two transfersurfaces respectively of a second pair of transfer surfaces,

7. causing the said mirror image bearing transfer surfaces of the secondpair thereof to contact the opposite sides of a sheet of copy paper,whereby the right reading images from the two originals of the secondpair of the series are offset onto the two sides of the sheet of copypaper,

8. repeating this procedure until the desired number of two sided copiesfrom the second pair of oroginals in the series have been produced, and

9. while these copies are being thus produced from the second pair oforiginals in the series, keeping the two transfer surfaces of the firstpair of transfer surfaces out of contact with supporting surfaces fororiginals, with other transfer surfaces and with the surface of the copypaper, and cleaning the residual images from the first pair of originalsoff their surfaces,

10. removing the two originals of the second pair of originals from thesupporting surfaces for originals and applying the two originals of thethird pair of the series thereto,

1 1. repeating the above procedure but with the images from the twooriginals of the third pair of the series being transferred from thesaid two originals to the two transfer surfaces respectively of a pairof transfer surfaces other than the second pair, and from there to thetwo sides of the copy paper; and with the two transfer surfaces of thesecond pair of transfer surfaces being kept out of contact withsupporting surfaces for originals, with other transfer surfaces and withthe surface of the copy paper, and the residual images from the secondpair of originals in the series being cleaned therefrom during therunning of two sided copies from the third pair of originals in theseries.

8. The method of producing multiple two sided copies from each of aseries of two sided originals having right reading images thereon, whichincludes providing:

a. a supporting surface for originals so constructed that one side of anoriginal supported thereon is visible and means for applying andremoving an original on said surface,

b. a supporting surface for originals so constructed that the other sideof an original supported thereon is visible and means for applying andremoving an original on said surface,

c. a plurality of pairs of transfer surfaces, and which includes thesteps of:

l. applying the first original of the series to the supporting surfacesfor originals, in such a manner that both sides thereof become exposed.

2. causing a mirror image of each of the two images on the two sides ofthe first original of the series to be transferred onto the two transfersurfaces respectively of the first pair of transfer surfaces, but notonto other pairs of transfer surfaces,

3. causing the two said mirror image bearing transfer surfaces of thefirst pair thereof to contact the two opposite sides of a sheet of copypaper,

whereby the right reading images from the two sides of the firstoriginal of the series are offset onto the two sides of the sheet ofcopy paper,

4. repeating this procedure until the desired number of two sided copiesfrom the first two sided original in the series have been produced,

5. removing the first original from the supporting surface for originalsand applying the second original of the series thereto in a mannersimilar to that in which the first original was applied,

6. causing a mirror image of each of the two images on the two sides ofthe second original of the series to be transferred onto the twotransfer surfaces respectively of a second pair of transfer surfaces,

7. causing the said mirror image bearing transfer surfaces of the secondpair thereof to contact the opposite sides of a sheet of copy paper,whereby the right reading images from the two sides of the secondoriginal of the series are offset onto the two sides of the sheet ofcopy paper,

8. repeating this procedure until the desired number of two sided copiesfrom the second two sided original in the series have been produced, and

9. while these copies are being thus produced from the second originalin the series, keeping the two transfer surfaces of the first pair oftransfer surfaces out of contact with supporting surfaces for originals,with other transfer surfaces and with the surface of the copy paper, andcleaning the residual images from the first original off their surfaces,

10. removing the second original from the supporting surface fororiginals and applying the third original of the series thereto, in amanner similar to that in which the first and second originals were soapplied,

1 l. repeating the above procedure but with the images from the twosides of the third original of the series being transferred from thesaid two sides of the third original to the two transfer surfacesrespectively of a pair of transfer surfaces other than the second pair,and from there to the two sides of the copy paper; and with the twotransfer surfaces of the second pair of transfer surfaces being kept outof contact with supporting surfaces for originals, with other transfersurfaces and with the surface of the copy paper, and the residual imagesfrom the second original in the series being cleaned therefrom duringthe running of two sided copies from the third two sided original in theseries.

9. while these copies are being thus produced from the second originalin the series, keeping the two transfer surfaces of the first pair oftransfer surfaces out of contact with supporting surfaces for originals,with other transfer surfaces and with the surface of the copy paper, andcleaning the residual images from the first original off their surfaces,

10. removing the second original from the supporting surface fororiginals and applying the third original of the series thereto, in amanner similar to that in which the first and second originals were soapplied,

l 1. repeating the above procedure but with the imkept out of contactwith supporting surfaces for ages from te two sides of the thirdoriginal of the originals, with other transfer surfaces and with seriesbeing transferred from the said two sides of the surface of the copypaper, and the residual the third original to the two transfer surfacesreimages from the second original in the series spectively of a pair oftransfer surfaces other than being cleaned therefrom during the runningof the second pair, and from there to the two sides two sided copiesfrom the third two sided original of the copy paper; and with the twotransfer surin the series.

faces of the second pair of transfer surfaces being my UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,785,289 DatedJanuary 15. 1974 Inv n d- William Ward Davidson. Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 16, line 10, "frist" should be -first--; Column 16, line 5,"therfrom" should be --therefrom; Column 17, line 37, "suraoes" shouldbe -surfaces--; Column 18, line 1L0, "there" should be --the-;

Column 18, line 14.1,"tere" should be --there;

Column 18, line 53, "transver" should be --transfer--; Column 19, inClaim 5 starting with line 13 Nos 9, 10 and 11 should be new paragraphs;

Column 20, line 12, "sirfaces" should be --surfaces-; Column 22, line 55thru line 68 duplicated;

Columns 23 and 24 also duplicated.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of June 197L (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIE TCHER,JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attestinz; Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. The method of producing multiple copies from each of a series ofoffset lithographic masters carrying right reading images thereon whichincludes providing: a. a master supporting surface and means forattaching and removing a master on said surface, b. a first offsetblanket supporting surface carrying a first offset blanket thereon, c. asecond offset blanket supporting surface carrying a second offsetblanket thereon, and d. an impression surface, and which includes thesteps of:
 1. attaching the first master in the series to the mastersupporting surface,
 2. inking the image thereon and causing the inkedsurface of the master to roll in contact with the surface of the firstblanket while holding the surface of the second blanket out of contactwith the master supporting surface, whereby the inked image is offsetonto the surface of the first blanket,
 3. causing the image bearingsurface of the first blanket to roll against the impression surfacewhile a sheet of copy paper is passed therebetween, whereby the inkedimage from the first master is offset onto the copy paper,
 4. repeatingthis procedure until the desired number of copies from the first masterhave been produced,
 5. removing the first master from the mastersupporting surface and attaching the second master thereto,
 6. inkingthe image thereon and causing the inked surface of the second master toroll in contact with the surface of the second blanket, whereby theinked image is offset onto the surface of the second blanket,
 7. causingthe image bearing surface of the second blanket to roll against theimpression surface while a sheet of copy paper is passed therebetween,whereby the inked image from the second master is offset onto the copypaper,
 8. repeating this procedure until the desired number of copiesfrom the second master have been produced, and
 9. while these copies arebeing produced from the second master, holding the surface of the firstblanket out of contact with the master supporting surface and theimpression surface and cleaning the residual ink image from the firstmaster off the surface of the first blanket,
 10. removing the secondmaster from the master supporting surface upon the completion of thedesired number of copies therefrom and attaching the third masterthereto,
 11. repeating the above procedure but with the image from thethird master being offset from the master to the first blanket and fromthere to the copy paper and with the second blanket being held out ofcontact with the master supporting surface and the impression surfaceand the residual ink image from the second master being cleanedtherefrom during the running of copies from the third master.
 2. inkingthe image thereon and causing the inked surface of the master to roll incontact with the surface of the first blanket while holding the surfaceof the second blanket out of contact with the master supporting surface,whereby the inked image is offset onto the surface of the first blanket,2. causing a mirror image of the image on the first original to betransferred onto a first transfer surface, but not onto other transfersurfaces,
 2. causing a mirror image of each of the two images on the twooriginals of the first pair of the series to be transferred onto the twotransfer surfaces respectively of the first pair of transfer surfaces,but not onto other pairs of transfer surfaces,
 2. causing a mirror imageof the image on the first original to be transferred onto the firsttransfer surface, but not onto the second transfer surface,
 2. causing amirror image of each of the two images on the two sides of the firstoriginal of the series To be transferred onto the two transfer surfacesrespectively of the first pair of transfer surfaces, but not onto otherpairs of transfer surfaces,
 2. inking the image on each master of thepair and causing the inked surfaces of the two masters to roll incontact with the two surfaces respectively of the first pair of blanketson the first pair of blanket supporting surfaces while holding thesurfaces of the other pair or pairs of blankets out of contact with themaster supporting surfaces, whereby the said inked images are offsetonto the surfaces of the first pair of said blankets respectively, 2.inking the image thereon and causing the inked surface of the master toroll in contact with the surface of a first blanket while holding thesurface of the other blanket or blankets out of contact with the mastersupporting surface, whereby the inked image is offset onto the surfaceof the said first blanket,
 2. The method of producing multiple copiesfrom each of a series of offset lithographic masters carrying rightreading images thereon which includes providing: a. a master supportingsurface and means for attaching and removing a master on said surface,b. a plurality of offset blanket supporting surfaces each carrying anoffset blanket thereon, and c. an impression surface, and which includesthe steps of:
 2. causing a mirrow image of each of the two images on thetwo originals of the first pair of the series to be transferred onto thetwo transfer surfaces respectively of the first pair of transfersurfaces, but not onto other pairs of transfer surfaces,
 3. causing thetwo said mirror image bearing transfer surfaces of the first pairthereof to contact the two opposite sides of a sheet of copy paper,whereby the right reading images from the two originals of the firstpair of the series are offset onto the two sides of the sheet of copypaper,
 3. causing the image bearing surface of the first blanket to rollagainst the impression surface while a sheet of copy paper is passedtherebetween, whereby the inked image from the first master is offsetonto the copy paper,
 3. The method of producing multiple two sidedcopies from each of a series of pairs of offset lithographic masterscarrying right reading images thereon, which includes providing: a. afirst master supporting surface and means for attaching and removing amaster on said surface, b. a second master supporting surface and meansfor attaching and removing a masteR on said surface, c. a plurality ofpairs of offset blanket supporting surfaces with each surface of eachpair carrying an offset blanket thereon, and which includes the stepsof:
 3. causing the two said mirror image bearing transfer surfaces ofthe first pair thereof to contact the two opposite sides of a sheet ofcopy paper, whereby the right reading images from the two sides of thefirst original of the series are offset onto the two sides of the sheetof copy paper,
 3. causing the two image bearing surfaces of the twoblankets of the first pair to roll against each other while a sheet ofcopy paper is passed therebetween, whereby the inked images from the twomasters of the first pair of the series are offset onto the two sides ofthe sheet of copy paper,
 3. causing the two said mirror image bearingtransfer surfaces of the first pair thereof to contact the two oppositesides of a sheet of copy paper, whereby the right reading images fromthe two originals on the first pair of the series are offset onto thetwo sides of the sheet of copy paper,
 3. causing the said mirror imagebearing first transfer surface to contact a sheet of copy paper wherebythe right reading image from the first original is offset onto the copypaper, 4, repeating this procedure until the desired number of copiesfrom the first original have been produced,
 3. causing the image bearingsurface of the first blanket to roll against the impression surfacewhile a sheet of copy paper is passed therebetween, whereby the inkedimage from the first master is offset onto the copy paper,
 3. causingthe said mirror image bearing first transfer surface to contact a sheetof copy paper whereby the right reading image from the first original isoffset onto the copy paper,
 4. repeating this procedure until thedesired number of copies from the first original have been produced, 4.repeating this procedure until the desired number of copies from thefirst master have been produced,
 4. repeating this procedure until thedesired number of two sided copies from the first pair of originals inthe series have been produced,
 4. The method of producing multiplecopies from each of a series of originals having the right readingimages thereon which includes providing: a. a supporting surface fororiginals and means for applying and removing an original on saidsurface, b. a first transfer surface, c. a second transfer surface, d.means to bring a selected one of the transfer surfaces into contact withsuccessive sheets of copy paper, and which includes the steps of: 4.repeating this procedure until the desired number of copies from thefirst pair of masters in the series have been produced,
 4. repeatingthis procedure until the desired number of two sided copies from thefirst two sided original in the series have been produced,
 4. repeatingthis procedure until the desired number of copies from the first masterhave been produced,
 4. repeating this procedure until the desired numberof two sided copies from the first pair of originals in the series havebeen produced,
 5. removing the two originals of the first pair from thesupporting surface for originals and applying the two originals of thesecond pair of the series thereto,
 5. removing the first master from themaster supporting surface and attaching the second master thereto, 5.removing the first original from the supporting surface for originalsand applying the second original of the series thereto in a mannersimilar to that in which the first original was applied,
 5. removing thetwo masters of the first pair from the first and second mastersupporting surfaces respectively and attaching the two masters of thesecond pair of the series thereto,
 5. The method of producing multiplecopies from each of a series of originals having right reading imagesthereon which includes providing: a. a supporting surface for originalsand means for applying and removing an original on said surface, b. aplurality of transfer surfaces, and c. means for bringing a selected oneof said transfer surfaces into contact with successive sheets of copypaper, and which includes the steps of:
 5. removing the two originals ofthe first pair from the first and second supporting surfaces fororiginals respectively and applying the two originals of the second pairof the series thereto,
 5. removing the first original from thesupporting surface for originals and applying the second originalthereto,
 5. removing the first master from the master supporting surfaceand attaching the second master thereto,
 5. removing the first originalfrom the supporting surface for originals and applying the secondoriginal thereto,
 6. causing a mirror image of the image on the secondoriginal to be transferred onto the second transfer surface,
 6. inkingthe image thereon and causing the inked surface of the second master toroll in contact with the surface of the second blanket, whereby theinked image is offset onto the surface of the second blanket,
 6. causinga mirror image of the image on the second original to be transferredonto a second transfer surface,
 6. causing a mirror image of each of thetwo images on the two originals of the second pair of the series to betransferred onto the two transfer surfaces respectively of a second pairof transfer surfaces,
 6. The method of producing multiple two sidedcopies from each of a series of pairs of originals having right readingimages thereon, which includes providing: a. a first supporting surfacefor originals and means for applying and removing an original on saidsurface, b. a second supporting surface for originals and means forapplying and removing an original on said surface, c. a plurality ofpairs of transfer surfaces, and which includes the steps of;
 6. inkingthe image on each master of the second pair and causing the inkedsurfaces of the two masters of the second pair to roll in contact withthe two surfaces respectively of a second pair of blankets on a secondpair of blanket supporting surfaces whereby the said inked images areoffset onto the surfaces of the second pair of said blanketsrespectively,
 6. causing a mirror image of each of the two images on thetwo originals of the second pair of the series to be transferred ontothe two transfer surfaces respectively of a second pair of transfersurfaces,
 6. causing a mirror image of each of the two images on the twosides of the second original of the series to be transferred onto thetwo transfer surfaces respectively of a second pair of transfersurfaces,
 6. inking the image thereon and causing the inked surface ofthe second master to roll in contact with the surface of a secondblanket whereby the inked image is offset onto the surface of the saidsecond blanket,
 7. causing the image bearing surface of the secondblanket to roll against the impression surface while a sheet of copypaper is passed therebetween, whereby the inked image from the secondmaster is offset onto the copy paper,
 7. causing the said mirror imagebearing transfer surfaces of the second pair thereof to contact theopposite sides of a sheet of copy paper, whereby the right readingimages from the two sides of the second original of the series areoffset onto the two sides of the sheet of copy paper,
 7. causing thesaid mirror image bearing transfer surfaces of the second pair thereofto contact the opposite sides of a sheet of copy paper, whereby theright reading images from the two originals of the second pair of theseries are offset onto the two sides of the sheet of copy paper, 7.causing the image bearing surfaces of the two blankets of the secondpair to roll against each other while a sheet of copy paper is passedtherebetween, whereby the inked images from the two masters of thesecond pair of the series are offset onto the two sides of the sheet ofcopy paper,
 7. causing the said mirror image bearing transfer surfacesof the second pair thereof to contact the opposite sides of a sheet ofcopy paper, whereby the right reading images from the two originals ofthe second pair of the series are offset onto the two sides of the sheetof copy paper,
 7. causing the said mirror image bearing second transfersurface to contact a sheet of copy paper whereby the right reading imagefrom the second original is offset onto the copy paper,
 7. causing theimage bearing surface of the second blanket to roll against theimpression surface while a sheet of copy paper is passed therebetween,whereby the inked image from the second master is offset onto the copypaper,
 7. causing the said mirror image bearing second transfer surfaceto contact a sheet of copy paper, whereby the right reading image fromthe second original is offset onto the copy paper,
 7. The method ofproducing multiple two sided copies from each of a sequential series ofpairs of originals having right reading images thereon, which includesproviding: a. at least one supportinG surface for originals and meansfor applying and removing an original on said surface, b. a plurality ofpairs of transfer surfaces, and which includes the steps of: 8.repeating this procedure until the desired number of copies from thesecond original have been produced, and
 8. repeating this procedureuntil the desired number of copies from the second master have beenproduced, and
 8. repeating this procedure until the desired number ofcopies from the second original have been produced, and
 9. while thesecopies are being produced from the second original, keeping the firsttransfer surface out of contact with the supporting surface fororiginals and with the copy paper, and cleaning the residual image fromthe first original off the first transfer surface,
 10. removing thesecond original from the supporting surface for originals and applyingthe third original thereto,
 11. repeating the above procedure but withthe image from the third original being transferred from the original toa transfer surface other than the secoNd transfer surface and from thereto the copy paper; and with the second transfer surface being kept outof contact with the supporting surface for originals and with the copypaper, and the residual image from the second original being cleanedtherefrom during the running of copies from the third original. 8.repeating this procedure until the desired number of copies from thesecond pair of masters in the series have been produced, and 9.whilethese copies are being produced from the second pair of masters in theseries, holding the surfaces of the two blankets of the first pair ofblankets out of contact with the master supporting and other blanketsupporting surfaces and cleaning the residual ink images from the firstpair of masters off their surfaces,
 8. repeating this procedure untilthe desired number of two sided copies from the second pair of originalsin the series have been produced, and
 8. repeating this procedure untilthe desired number of two sided copies from the second pair of originalsin the series have been produced, and
 8. The method of producingmultiple two sided copies from each of a series of two sided originalshaving right reading images thereon, which includes providing: a. asupporting surface for originals so constructed that one side of anoriginal supported thereon is visible and means for applying andremoving an original on said surface, b. a supporting surface fororiginals so constructed that the other side of an original supportedthereon is visible and means for applying and removing an original onsaid surface, c. a plurality of pairs of transfer surfaces, and whichincludes the steps of:
 8. repeating this procedure until the desirednumber of two sided copies from the second two sided original in theseries have been produced, and
 8. repeating this procedure until thedesired number of copies from the second master have been produced, and9. while these copies are being produced from the second master, holdingthe surface of the first blanket out of contact with the mastersupporting surface and the impression surface and cleaning the residualink image from the first master off the surface of the first blanket, 9.while these copies are being thus produced from the second original inthe series, keeping the two transfer surfaces of the first pair oftransfer surfaces out of contact with supporting surfaces for originals,with other transfer surfaces and with the surface of the copy paper, andcleaning the residual images from the first original off their surfaces,9. while these copies are being thus produced from the second pair oforiginals in the series, keeping the two transfer surfaces of the firstpair of transfer surfaces out of contact with supporting surfaces fororiginals, with other transfer surfaces and with the surface of the copypaper, and cleaning the residual images from the first pair of originalsoff their surfaces,
 9. while these copies are being produced from thesecond master, holding the surface of the first blanket out of contactwith the master supporting surface and the impression surface andcleaning the residual ink image from the first master off the surface ofthe first blanket,
 9. while these copies are being produced from thesecond original, keeping the first transfer surface out of contact withthe supporting surface for originals and with the copy paper, andcleaning the residual image from the first original off the firsttransfer surface,
 9. while these copies are being thus produced from thesecond pair of originals in the series, keeping the two transfersurfaces of the first pair of transfer surfaces out of contact withsupporting surfaces for originals, with other transfer surfaces and withthe surface of the copy paper, and cleaning the residual images from thefirst pair of originals off their surfaces,
 10. removing the twooriginals of the second pair of originals from the first and secondsupporting surfaces for originals respectively and applying the twooriginals of the third pair of the series thereto,
 10. removing thesecond original from the supporting surface for originals and applyingthe third original thereto,
 10. removing the second master from themaster supporting surface upon the completion of the desired number ofcopies therefrom and attaching the third master thereto,
 10. removingthe two masters of the second pair of masters from the first and secondmaster supporting surfaces respectively upon the completion of thedesired number of copies therefrom and attaching the two masters of thethird pair of the series thereto,
 10. removing the two originals of thesecond pair of originals from the supporting surfaces for originals andapplying the two originals of the third pair of the series thereto, 10.removing the second original from the supporting surface for originalsand applying the third original of the series thereto, in a mannersimilar to that in which the first and second originals were so applied,10. removing the second master from the master supporting surface uponthe completion of the desired number of copies therefrom and attachingthe third master thereto,
 11. repeating the above procedure but with theimage from the third master being offset from the master to a blanketother than the second blanket and from there to the copy paper and withthe second blanket being held out of contact with the master supportingsurface and the impression surface, and the residual image from thesecond master being cleaned therefrom during the running of copies fromthe third master.
 11. repeating the above procedure but with the imagesfrom the two sides of the third original of the series being transferredfrom the said two sides of the third original to the two transfersurfaces respectively of a pair of transfer surfaces other than thesecond pair, and from there to the two sides of the copy paper; and withthe two transfer surfaces of the second pair of transfer surfaces beingkept out of contact with supporting surfaces for originals, with othertransfer surfaces and with the surface of the copy paper, and theresidual images from the second original in the series being cleanedtherefrom during the running of two sided copies from the third twosided original in the series.
 11. repeating the above procedure but withthe image from the third master being offset from the master to thefirst blanket and from there to the copy paper and with the secondblanket being held out of contact with the master supporting surface andthe impression surface and the residual ink image from the second masterbeing cleaned therefrom during the running of copies from the thirdmaster.
 11. repeating the above procedure but with the images from thetwo originals of the third pair of the series being transferred from thesaid two originals to the two transfer surfaces respectively of a pairof transfer surfaces other than the second pair, and from there to thetwo sides of the copy paper; and with the two transfer surfaces of thesecond pair of transfer surfaces being kept out of contact withsupporting surfaces for originals, with other transfer surfaces and withthe surface of the copy paper, and the residual images from the secondpair of originals in the series being cleaned therefrom during therunning of two sided copies from the third pair of originals in theseries.
 11. repeating the above procedure but with the images from thetwo masters of the third pair of the series being offset from the twomasters to the two blankets respectively of a pair of blankets otherthan the second pair, and from there to the two sides of the copy paper,and with the surfaces of the two blankets of the second pair of blanketsbeing held out of contact with the master supporting and other blanketsupporting surfaces and the residual ink images from the second pair ofmasters in the series being cleaned therefrom during the running ofcopies from the third pair of masters in the series.
 11. repeating theabove procedure but with the image from the third original beingtransferred from the third original to the first transfer surface andfrom there to the copy paper and with the second transfer surface beingkept out of contact with the supporting surface for originals and withthe copy paper, and the residual image from the second original beingcleaned therefrom during the running of copies from the third original.11. repeating the above procedure but with the images from the twooriginals of the third pair of the series being transferred from thesaid two originals to the two transfer surfaces respectively of a pairof transfer surfaces other than the second pair, and from there to thetwo sides of the copy paper; and with the two transfer surfaces of thesecond pair of transfer surfaces being kept out of contact withsupporting surfaces for originals, with other transfer surfaces and withthe surface of the copy paper, and the residual images from the secondpair of originals in the series being cleaned therefrom during therunning of two sided copies from the third pair of originals in theseries.